The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1887-07-07
AN ELEGANT GRAFTON
DEIIV VERED IN METROPOLITAN
HALL, RALEIGH, JULY It'll. 1887,
Anniversary of American Indepen-


Esq, of Raleigh, made in Raleigh Monday.
We invite every reader of the CHRONICLE
TO give it a careful perusaI. It is not
long, nor is it common place. It bris-
ties with strength and thought. 1t is
| beautiful in its originality and i'll its
verbage. 1t is a speech worthy the occa-
sion--higher praise than this we cannot
beStow.
To appreciate it fully it should be heard.
Mr.. Jones delivered it without reference
to notes or manuscript. His manner was
that of an orator. He surpassed him
of his most partial friends. 1t is a speech
that every man can read with profit, and
from Which every school boy can gain val
liable knowledge The following is the
oration:
ELLOw CITIZENS
How appropriate that Americans should
celebrate this day. How wise that in the
rush of our business, commerce and poll
tics there should be some time set apart to
| commemorate the virtues and heroic
achievements of our forefathers. 1t is in
| deed q pleasing scene-a whole nation as
| sembled in their cities, towns and villages,
| as with one voice to give expression TO
! the scntiment-"our country, our whole
| country and nothing but our country"
! Let no djScordant spirit enter here. II IS
| the birthday Of the nation; we re dice to-
day as citizens Of a common country. l
/ felcitate YOU upon the glorious crcum-
! stan IS under which We are assembled
Never before in the whole history of our
| country did the heart Of the patriot have
/ such good cause for rejoicing and thanks
! giving. The spectre Of disunion, the rup
| ture of sectionalism that struck Jefferson
! in his retirement like the alarm Of a fire
| bell" all have been left behind in the
march Of our progress. The apprehensiye
! solicitude of Washington, from parties
! formed upon geographical lines, the dying
fears Of Madison Of dsunion no longer
haunt the dreams of the patriot or blight
his hopes. And we proclaim this day,
''Liberty and union one and inseparahie
now and forever" in sweeter accord. in
grander acclaim than any sons of the re-
/ public ever Gid before 1t is truly day
/ of rejoicing for AS and nothing but rejoic
ing. | shall not DEPART from the spirit of
the hour. | would not break its spell,a as |
ask your attention % the American idea
developed in the Constitution.
The Constitution was the crowning act
! developed from the events flowing from
| the Declaration of Independence. The
battles of the revolution would have been
Won in vain, had not the arms of the Con
sttution gathered and embraced its mighty
| principles. Washington ever first in war
aud first in the hearts of his countrymen,
shall take his stand for Immortality upon
his part in forming the Constitution. and
his eight years labor IN guiding the helm
Of State. Pre- emlnently great everywhere
and under all circumstances, his glory
shines brightest around his deeds as a
civilian. Not when receiving the sword
of Cornwallis at Yorktown, but when
handing the Constitution and laws to
Adams. his successor. and in utteriny
those immortal words his farewell ad
dress. viii he most successfully challenge
the admiration Of mankind through all
ages and command the lasting gratitude
of his cOuntrNmen. So then. my fellow
citizens, ! know you VIII pardon me on
this day. sacred first to American indie
pendence, il speaking about the Constitu-
ton.
No period Of our history has been more
pregnant with doubts and gloomy fore
bodings than those Just after the close of
the Revolution Grave troubles We're aris-
ing on every hand. The debt of the gov
ernmeLt, contracted in so sacred a cause,
remained unpaid Credit and business
We're being Impaired BY the violation Of
the obligations Of contracts by the States.
Rebellion had broken out in the common
wealth of Massachusetts and the commerce
and navigation Of the colonies We're being
rapidly destroyed. The Continental Con
gress was totally unable to meet the de-
mands Of the times and the statesmen of
the period were anXiOusly looking every
where for some plan to preserve the fruits
L. c ! IL,
Ously won. Then it was that Virginia
time honored Virginia, proposed to her
sister colonies meeting to consider some
plan to remedy the evils. The convention
now called met at Annapolis, but adjourn
ed; only advising further meeting with
greater powers. This was the body of patri
OTIS that met at Philadelphia in May 1897
: Obstacles We're to be met and overcome
The confederation had proved too weak
for the end Of its creation. 1t acted upor
the States and rot upon individuals anC
,, therefore had no power to carry out its
DEGREES without their consent. Some Of
the States had already dsregarded it
mandates. To preserve the States quas
sovereignty and at the same time to form
l government that would command obedi
| ence at home and respect abroad was the
: question of the hour Virginia took tn,
lead in the deliberations of the convention
and was the first to offer plan of govern
, ment. 1t was national in its character
J and in it the individuality of the State:
. was lost New Jersey brought forward ;
plan in opposition, but in it the genera
government was not given powers enough
Here the issue was squarely drawn ant
l the crisis of American constitutional llber
ty was at hand. The smaller States ar
rayed themselves solidly against the ma
tonal idea and on the question shoult
! the States be equally represented in th'
Senate, they all voted aye and the larg
States voted no.
AT this juncture, when it seemed tha
the convention must fail of its object tw'
of the delegates from the State of New
York having already Withdrawn, and will
: all the dangers of disunion and anarch
E. pending. the question should the State
: have an equal representation in tn
1 Senate, was again put for the las
time, when North Carolina voted aye
This State was necessary to carry tn
question, and without it the convention
, would have adjourned sine die. | trust
! am not carried away by feelings of Stat
f pride, or too much elated with the en-
v thusasm of this day, when assert tina
/ to North Carolina more than TO any athe
American Commonwealth is due the glor
y of saving the constitution. When it Wa
:. that some sacrifice must be made, when